suggested implementation of Protons
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The proton (pton):
Colour: red: #F00000
Spawn temp: 300k
Direction: random
Speed: similar to neutrons
Type: energy
*New* reflects towards source (along ray of incedence)
very soft glow
effected by gravity
very energetic
pulsates in colour
rotates about a moving point leaving a trail?
passes through powders and liquids (and some solids?)
Reactions (without the reliance of electrons)
Pton + neut = D (2H)
-D + Oxygen (+ burned, like oxygen and hydrogen?) = deut
Pton (+ random time, life) = neut + elec (unrealistic decay)
Pton + electron = hydrogen
(hydrogen + pton = noble gas helium?)
Pton + noble = rubidium (noble gas is now krypton)
Pton does not cause spark to regular conductive material.
*New* Pton reverses the effects of neutrons
*New* Pton turns Uranium into Plutonium
Implementation of the proton:
The addition of the proton will bring new and exotic particle accelerators, new element generating devices and some of that dreaded realism to the supposed simulation game: “The Powder Toy is a free physics sandbox game, which simulates air pressure and velocity, heat, gravity and a countless number of interactions between different substances!” -https://powdertoy.co.uk/Download.html.
Completing the set of subatomic particles, adding to the small and sometimes useless set of radioactive / radiation set of “elements” will correct the false neutron - electron hydrogen. This can be achieved without breaking the old saves by allowing both types of hydrogen creation.
With this important technicality solved, the proton can be used to build more element factories than currently possible. From the above list of behaviour, the proton can be used to produce currently uncreatable elements such as clean noble gas (without extreme fusion environments and other exotic radiation) and rubidium. Now you might ask yourself “how does helium and protons make rubidium?” My answer is in the wording; it’s noble gas, which is the group of elements: Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon and radon. Note both Helium and Krypton is present in that list. When one makes helium, one makes noble gas, which accounts for all of the gasses, allowing the creation of rubidium. Due to there being few other opportunities like rubidium, there are no other similar reactions.
A shallow excuse against the implementation of protons is the fact that neutrons and protons turn to hydrogen, then (possibly) that reaction could be followed by residual protons, turning the mix to noble gas helium. If this link is made, the mixture could turn directly into rubidium – a possibly unstable reaction from protons. Well if this is a limiting factor, why then do neutrons turn nitroglycerine into the toxic mixture of oil, diesel and gas? Surely this argument is invalid.
Finally, I would like to add that most criticism towards protons concerns the inaccuracies towards the reactions: “Learn some chemistry, I've been in ap chem for two motnhs and can prove this wrong” –chilypepper, https://powdertoy.co.uk/Discussions/Thread/View.html?Thread=11545. I will point out that the powder toy attempts not to concern themselves with realism: “Don't post ideas that occur with any of the following thoughts, …’Powder Toy is missing this element of realism... I should suggest it!’.”- https://powdertoy.co.uk/Discussions/Thread/View.html?Thread=3819. Element names are only based loosely, not strictly, on the real world, allowing almost any useful element to fit implementation criteria. Give protons a chance.
Bimmo_devices.
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This has been suggested many times, and even made once (somewhere in here).
But just because it has been asked for many times isn't bad, new ideas for it like these make it much more interesting. The old version was just red neutrons that had odd reactions with elements. Catelite had a nice quote in that thread as well, "It's not really bad repeatedly suggesting things like this. If the idea floats around for long enough, someone who's proficient with the code end of the game might pick it up and run with it."
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Trying to equate anything in this to real-world physics short of extremely loosely is going to break everything, though. Don't look at powder toy as a chemical set, because it's a falling sand game, where all the links between elements are merely associative, and derive nearly nothing from real world physics short of a few convenient math equations.
If protons are going to exist in this game, they're going to have to do something neutrons and electrons cannot do.
This means, it's going to have to be a heck of a lot fancier. :P You need more than just reactions. You need something that makes Protons behaviorally different in some radical way.
-Also, yes this is a simulation game. It simulates its own universe, with its own set of rules. It doesn't even -try- to emulate real-world physics besides some rare exceptions, like water boiling, light refraction and reflection, and gravity. The rest is basically fun-mode cellular automata. We're not afraid of realism. It's just that the niche is already taken, and we have no need to add it unless it's frighteningly awesome. :(
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I thank you both for your feedback and (let’s face it) more intelligent conversation about the suggestion. I personally have gained quite a like to the powder toys realistic affects and reactions, and the new concepts each month might bring. I see an improvement page and learn from the most complicated simulation of all; the universe around us (I was going to say beautiful, but that would be girly). The only thing in the energy category that requires addition that is even close to something physics related is the proton.
One factor that we must consider (well, maybe the developers) is that one element has limits. If radiation is given wider ability, they may overlap and turn any simulation into a mash. Adding protons might have a use to the developers.
Then again, if we drop the meaning of “proton”, the new particle could reverse the effect of neutrons. Reacting together, but reversing each other’s effects could bring the “radical way” of protons, along with the described effects.
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OK. If the proton is ever considered, special effects could include the changing of uranium into plutonium (sorry - I am being annoyingly realistic) rather than the random effects caused by neutrons. (check my *New*'s.) as for behavioural differences, I am not sure what that could be.
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I had a proton thread like this, You should take a look at it:https://powdertoy.co.uk/Discussions/Thread/View.html?Thread=13990
It adds the missing, 'what could protons do that neutrons and electrons can't already' link
Edit: Cracker already had the link :/
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I agree that there should be a way of producing protons. exot is a good candidate. (All who haven't, go to nmd's link.) the only thing I am not sure about is the pressure - usualy radiation doesn't effect air pressure. As an energy particle I agree that it should be produced by fusion. I would recommend that people consider nmd's ideas also. What do people think of the neutron reversal? Catelite, I have not thought about aesthetics as yet. I am completely open to suggestions about the look and feel of the proton. Having them permeate everything is a good idea - make them realy anoying in bombs / emitters! As for their radioactivity, have them be less active than neutrons but not too inert either (just to make them different).
I have added some aesthetic suggestions.
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Neutrons produce a fair amount of positive pressure, actually. They also move pseudo-randomly, if you watch them on persistant view.
The thing I'm saying is, we need to be extreme with this. We already have all manner of particles for ordinary transfer mechanisms, all manner of particles for explosions, for aesthetics. So we need something different.
Keeping in mind that with access to the game's code, we -can- do nearly everything. What should Protons do that would be cool and awesome, and in no way realistic?
